Grain growers facing interstate weed woes

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) says South Australian growers are seeing different pests and weeds than in previous years.

More than 300 people are expected to hear the latest challenges and opportunities facing the industry, at the corporation's annual Grains Research Update, being held in Adelaide over the next two days.

David Shannon from the GRDC says growers will also learn about the latest strategies to control weeds and pests.

"We've got some weeds that seem to be creeping down from northern Australia," he said.

"Fleabane is one where it's always been prevalent in Queensland and northern New South Wales and it's now, we're finding it right throughout the southern region and this is a weed that tends to really grow well over summer."

Mr Shannon says growers will also hear about the global outlook.

He says some growers may consider growing different types of grain to take advantage of strong prices.

"What we're seeing is certainly an increase in demand for feed grains, grains not for human consumption but for livestock and also for fuel," he said.

"While that is increasing, the actual demand for food grains has actually eased slightly."

It's a fundamental human yearning to be a part of something bigger than one's self, and maybe that's what drove my mate Ash to die, far from home, in a bloody foreign war against Islamic State, writes C August Elliott.